Social Networks & Privacy
The Internet has for a long period been the acid test of ‘freedom of speech.’ But at what cost to many unworldly individuals? Sometimes celebrities are the objects of Internet video disclosures that are quickly broadcast all over the globe through sites like YouTube, whose hyperlinks are easily advertised on social network profiles such as MySpace and Facebook. But almost as frequently, celebrities are made by the uploading of embarrassing videos of ordinary citizens, which are then electronically disseminated and blogged and thus spread like wildfire to each end of the world. The infamy which results from lots of these tapes or photos being spread so easily can be mortifying to the personalities who are exploited by their being spread. But who is to be held responsible? an individual can’t be held to the responsible merely for passing onward an email or posting a public link to their Facebook profile.
The Internet and social networking sites are simply a more modern channel by means of which the diffusion of data has been made more accessible. Unfortunately, or fortunately, calling on every person with access to a computer a certified journalist with the ability to reach millions of audiences the globe over. So it is not the social networks that are responsible for this invasion of personal rights, but the community at large itself. Social culture flourishes on the spread of gossip and information sharing. As long as you are not the victim, you have no problems forwarding that embarrassing video of a poor boy cavorting around his room making believe to be a resistance fighter from Star Wars (The young man is currently under psychiatric care and has left on his education, on the off chance that you were wondering). Websites such as TMZ.com survive only because of human desire for salacious garbage and celebrity gossip.
Similarly, we must understand the Internet’s infinite possibility, and the nonviability of exercising power over its material. In today’s times, one must know that one’s actions could be broadcast within seconds. With digital cameras, phones with video capability and instant access to YouTube and Facebook, something you do could be passed around to your buddies and unknown people alike as it is happening. We must revisit what is private and what is fair game, as it is no longer safe to take for granted that all we do will remain in our hands. Modern methods have a mind of its own, and the Internet is a typical example an invention that can quietly steer away from its original use and find many more purposes as long as the multitudes encourage it.